When You Are Overconfident

[dammit_flynn]

Characters: Yuri Lowell, Rukia Kuchiki, Flynn Scifo, Albel Knox, Lailah, Hisui Hearts, Selphie Tilmitt, Natalia L.K Lanvaldear, Anise Tatlin & Open
Where: Palitutu’s Laboratory – Aqures Ixen
When: March 01
Summary: Yuri faces his Calamity Self after much wasted time on his end. He figured it might as well get whatever he could and maximize his resources. Of course, he wants to be complicated so, Yuri basically leaves a letter to his friends stamped to the refrigerator of his house and various other locations throughout Aqures Ixen for those who had close CR with him or considered him close.

{F A C I N G T H E P A S T

"Yuri a note on the refrigerator is not how you contact your friends when you need their help," Acrisius floated next to Yuri as the former imperial knights was standing in front of the machine and preparing to hand the crystal to his moogle. Yuri didn't say anything at first. Acrisius wasn't wrong and strangely enough the moogle had grown on him significantly—that and he reminded Yuri of Flynn very much. Always damn nagging.

"They'll get the gist of it in no time. It's not like I want them to be worried about me."

He waved his hand dismissively. There's a lot of things Yuri would rather not talk about in front of his friends. Of course, he wouldn't be as rude as to not tell them but he wasn't going to be easy about it. He's difficult and he'd be difficult until the bitter end. Even Repede is giving him the look of disapproval.

"Hey, they can gather each other and meet me when I'm doing this right now. It's not like I ran off somewhere."

Acrisius sighs loudly, "That isn't the point. You know that they'll be unhappy with how you handle things. Are you really going to let yourself be subjected to more concerns with your other self?"

"Why not? I got a mountain full of problems. What's one more?"

Acrisius shot him a dark look, "Alright if you insist," he paused as he rubbed his little moogle temples. Yuri wasn't going to let up so he wasn't going to fight anymore, "Here we go Yuri."

Without further adieu, his moogle inserts the crystal and Yuri stepped back crossing his arms. His other self was just like the many others that he saw. It was a dark eerie figure, with different colored eyes and a draft of coldness about him. The only thing that made him different from Yuri was the fact that he wore the Imperial Knights uniform that Yuri had worn a couple of years ago. Given that Aqures Ixen and the Crystallis were about two years his residence. Yuri watched the other him manifest from the crystal, seemingly unfazed.

"Confident aren't you?" His other self scoffed a bit as he crossed his arms. He wasn't much different from Yuri but his temper for one was not anyone's cup of tea-- not even Yuri because it was him, "Don't think it will be that easy, Yuri."

"You bet I'm confident that this will be pretty easy. I don't have anything to worry about. You just do your thing and I'll just take it in stride," Yuri retorted as he glanced at his other self standing right across from him. At least for a moment before it came up close to him in a matter of seconds and socked him right across the face hurling him a few feet across the room. Now Yuri wasn't expecting that.

"Bull. You're full of it as always hiding behind the façade of an uncaring asshole."

Yuri slammed into the wall behind him after he flew a few feet backwards. He didn't even seem fazed at this either as he pushed himself up, somewhat aggravated by the punch. He spat out the blood that was in his mouth from cutting his lip, "What's wrong with that?"

The other him just stared at him incredulously, "You're really impossible! TELL THEM HOW YOU REALLY FEEL YOU BASTARD!" he snapped angrily at the other.

{G O I N G H O M E

[ Yuri rubbed the bruised side of his face. What a damn punch that Shadow had. It wasn't his intention to bottle things up or keep things under a lock and key. He just never found it worth his time to mention or brought up. Burdening his friend was something he never really thought about doing and even though he relied on them, he still kept them at a distance. Some things he realized from being beaten around by the god awful shadow that was just him pissed at his stupidity.

Yuri laughed almost bitterly. ]

Man, this stuff sure hurts literally. Geez. I guess it's time to go home. C'mon Repede, Acrisius.

[ The former Imperial Knight mused as he pat the animals on the head. They looked rather worried for him bt he seemed fine. Yuri had nothing to really hide and he learned some things he did were subconsciously done and were more like a defense mechanism. ]

Comments

[dammit_yuri]

Flynn didn't have to say anything. Everyone else already said it. What Flynn did do was smile at Yuri - more of a smirk, really - because Yuri already knew what Flynn would say anyway.

It was just the way their relationship was.

Yuri was Yuri, Flynn was Flynn, and they wouldn't listen to each other even if they had the words to say.

Stepping forward next to Yuri's side, Flynn let him know that no matter what, he would back his best friend up, in a way that only two of the closest people to each other could.

[lastfonmasterguardian]

Anise stood behind Rukia, as one of the last members of the Yuri Defense Squad (tm). She had a few healing spells on hand in case things got really nasty, but for now she was pretty okay with Yuri feeling the effects of that punch.

"Boooo, you jerk! Even after all of that 'don't go it alone' stuff, you pull this! Rukia's right, you totally deserved that punch."

[dammit_flynn]

"H-Hey I wrote notes. I even sent them to your places with Acrisus."

Yuri protested in his defense. Acrisius just stared flatly at him as he didn't need to say anymore. The moogle's 'I told you so,' look only made Yuri give his moogle a look.

The former imperial knight glances at Rukia by the door. Well, that certainly started off great. He knew she was going to be upset but it wasn't like he could stop himself from being well, himself. Yuri just sighed as puts a hand to his head listening to the others equally add to the whole 'You deserve it,' conversation. His Shadow seemed rather happy with the fact that he was being called out for his shit and Yuri was just not going to have his Shadow get the best of him.

How he really felt? Well that's not too hard right? He's still not going to outwardly admit it all at once. What's the fun in that? He had to be difficult. That was Yuri thing to do. Damn did Rukia's point hurt. If he opened up a little more. Yeah, if only he did.

"Look, I get you're pissed off but I can't help being me. It's part of how I am. Just because you tell me to do something doesn't mean I'll just do it."

He replied slowly to the Shadow and the rest of the people in the room, "Whoa, even Asch is here! You know calling me an idiot won't change anything but nice to know I'm important enough for you to sneak in."

Yuri didn't even bother to take this whole situation seriously until his Shadow glowered at him.

"Of course he does. He knows you're full of it. For once that loud mouth ass has a point."

Sorry Asch, this isn't really how Yuri feels about him. Ah, there's Selphie. Man why did he always have to deal with overly worried people? He couldn't get a break could he? This was going to end smoothly anyway, since the Shadow was pretty much sucking up all the truth Yuri had said so far.

"He doesn't even open up to Flynn freaking Scifo. Why would he open up to anyone else?! Such things would only burden them, am I right?"

"Damn straight. I couldn't even talk to Flynn about everything, so talking with everyone else is out of the question."

"It's not cuz you can't. It's just too painful. The weight you carry on your shoulders. The burden that you force yourself to take. They're right. You should share it! After all you do want it don't you?"

"I probably should but I'm not going to."

The swordsman seemed so done with this Shadow. He really was. He didn't want to hear this anymore, especially when it was as if he was looking at his past self. How hot headed, irresponsible he was. He still is but it's controllable, "Man, here I thought you couldn't give a rat's ass about me, Albel!" His tone was just as joking as he turned to Albel's teasing. There's a twitch of Yuri's lips when he stared at Flynn. He knew what the other was gong to say and he knew that Flynn didn't have to say it. In fact, that smirk really pissed him off.

"You don't even need to talk huh Flynn? Of course not. You already know what you need to know but there's more. You should have seen the sorry state he was in when you weren't around-- he almost got himself almost killed. Hell, the authorities almost got him good that time too."

Yuri's lips quivered, "Yeah what of it? What changes if he knows?"

Ah, Anise. She really did throw a punch at him. She was right too. He couldn't deny that. He ignored the Shadow to turn to Anise and greeted her with a laugh. What else was he going to say? She wasn't going to take the excuses either.

"You don't want to deal with it am I right? It's better for you to suffer on your own than let others in. After all, those who get close to you end up dead. Man, you were so useless. You couldn't even save a dog. Some Imperial Soldier you were. Isn't that why you quit?"

"Hey."

He started slowly as his other self sniped at him, "Drop it."

"You'd like that wouldn't you? Let's talk about the recent things, like that vision and how it bothered you to no end. Even now it troubles the back of your mind like an electrical shock."

[damn_juicebox]

"Tch...as if you really believed a note was ever going to cut it," Rukia grumbled. Did he take the lot of them for fools? It was a horrible lie not even he could make himself believe.

But for the rest, Rukia remained silent, her attention focused more on Yuri's shadow than the downed swordsman. He wasn't panicking, but he still didn't seem ready to accept this other side of himself. Would that be the case if he didn't have an audience? She wasn't quite sure, so she studied the Shadow quietly.

Time and time again she'd offered to listen, knowing there were things he needed to say. But she'd respected his wishes, reluctant to pry where she wasn't invited. And now the sage's vision was being dredged up. Rukia spoke quietly, her back turned to Yuri.

"If we leave, will you be able to accept that this is a part of yourself?" she said, plainly and simply. "We...I have no right to be exposed to the pain and heartbreak you've kept to yourself all these years. I would rather hear it from you, of your own volition, than see the things you hold dear dragged out and announced with such blatant disregard." Her head turned faintly in Yuri's direction.

"The choice is yours. I will honor it."

[stupidgenes]

Asch observes as everyone says their piece, paying close attention to how Yuri and his Shadow interact. Is it weird that he can somehow relate to Yuri in this situation? Probably because of issues with himself and his own replica. Anyway, Asch simply ignores the Shadow’s insult—Yuri already knows why Asch is here. He wouldn’t have bothered if Yuri wasn’t important in some capacity. Even though he called Yuri an idiot.

Still, Asch comes to the conclusion that Rukia voices. Much like his own battle with his replica in Eldrant, this isn’t really anyone else’s battle but Yuri’s own. It’s natural he doesn’t want anyone involved, but everyone wants to support him anyway. Asch included, and he thinks he’d made the right decision checking up on the other man. He may have said Yuri can’t face something like this all on his own, but...

"Good thing you’re not really alone, right?" He turns toward the door and begins leaving. In a lower, calmer, and almost sentimental tone, "But don’t get me wrong, you’re still an idiot."

Asch wouldn't bother mentioning it if he didn't really care.

[dammit_yuri]

Flynn wasn't entirely sure what he could say to make anything better. Yuri was always one to forge his own path, even if that path was one full of hardship. Not that he could talk, considering his path was just as difficult if not more so. But it was true. Words weren't exactly needed when you were practically the same person who chose a different path. Flynn could understand where Yuri was coming from and what the Shadow meant by its words, but that didn't mean that he would be able to persuade Yuri any better than anyone else present. If it were that easy, they would've never left each others' sides after Niren's passing.

"It's all right," he stated, almost softly. "Do what you need to do. But that doesn't mean we won't be watching you, ready to stand by your side. Sure, we get into all sorts of trouble when the other isn't there to check on us, but... I know that when I ring that bell, you'll rush to my side. So don't ever hesitate to do the same thing in turn. A world without Yuri isn't a world I'm willing to save as fiercely as one with him in it."

[wickedone]

"I managed to find one rat's ass," Albel replied wryly. "I figured I might as well give it to you."

He shifted his weight and placed a hand on his hip, staring down Yuri's Shadow. That same self-doubt, that same isolationism, wanting to push everyone else away to "keep them safe" when really it was about protecting Yuri -- just as Albel had done with his own heart. He kept everyone at arms' length so he wouldn't be disappointed or hurt or responsible.

"Everyone has the right to exist as they choose," he stated. "Their friends support them."

Friends. Yeah, he supposed they were. Yuri had defended Albel's existence before.

[dammit_flynn]

"Actually, no I realized that wasn't gonna cut it but you know it wasn't going to stop me from trying."

He shrugged briefly at her reply. Rukia was right, he knew that his note wasn't going to cut his worried friends. He was being ambiguous on purpose. He knew it wasn't going to fool them for long. It's not that he minded it was more that he wasn't the type to really share his life with those he cared about. It was something he seemed to have an issue with—taking everything on his own instead of sharing it. When it came to him, he was always a bit harsh on himself.

"C'mon Shorty it's not about that."

He sighed. Now he felt bad because all of his friends really did care about him in such a way that it was hard for him to dismiss their concern. They were probably more times than ever sounding like Estelle and the others.

"--Just don't want to worry you."

Well thanks Shadow Yuri. You really know how to be blunt and cocky.

Yuri sighed, "Right, that. This is—

"Embarrassing."

"Right—will you quit that for a sec!"

Yuri really had it against his other self as he started to speak again. Yuri couldn't help but start chuckling at Asch's comment. Really? Of all the people he got encouraged by a short tempered red head that wanted to strangle him for various things.

"What made you think that?"

"That Lone Wolf Attitude of yours of yours."

"You’re not wrong."

Somehow this turned into a weird comedy show. Yuri was maybe a little baffled by the tone that Flynn used. Well—to be fair, his Shadow showed a larger amount of shock for the both of them. Okay, he was fairly used to Flynn being pretty sentimental but this was all way too sappy for his own comfort and he couldn't help but look the other way. Yuri—embarrassed? Yeah that's totally happening.

"Shucks Flynn, didn't know you cared that much," he muttered. Ah—why were they all sappy? Even Albel too. Yuri just couldn't handle this right now. In truth, he could but it didn’t want ot admit to these things all the time. He knew he made friends with a great bunch of people who would never betray him. They were always going to be by his side and protect him for whatever dumb reason they had.

"I guess I can take that rat's ass as a thank you for going out of your way for little old me here."

Okay, he's really going to have to end this quickly or he's going to drown in all the cheesy sap and his Shadow was already enjoying the amount of squirming he was doing by busting out laughing. Which probably would have surprised the room.

[dammit_yuri]

"We achieved what we came to do," Flynn spoke softly as he turned to the others. "It's up to Yuri to deal with his Shadow now, and it doesn't appear as though a physical altercation will be needed. Why don't we step aside so that Yuri may have some privacy?"

[wickedone]

Albel looked at Yuri for confirmation before nodding. "If that is what is best."

Yuri gave him privacy to face the spirit of the Crimson Scourge. They weren't that close. Close enough that Albel cared, he supposed, but... well, he didn't want to invade Yuri's space any more than necessary. Flynn was his friend. If this is what Flynn thought was appropriate, Albel would agree.

"We'll be outside." He left, intending to wait until Yuri was done and still ready to fight if necessary.

[damn_juicebox]

"That's the logic of a fool," Rukia sighed, dropping her head with exasperation written all over her face. "We would worry less if you bothered to tell us what's going on. Instead you let us find out like --this--." She gestured briefly at the lab with her hand before looking to his Shadow. The purple-eyed Yuri didn't seem particularly violent or aggressive. This was the side of himself that he repressed, it seemed...a side that worried for his friends more than his own safety and well-being. Well that wasn't so bad, all things considered.

She took a few steps toward the door, but she didn't leave. Neither version of Yuri seemed particularly insistent about being left alone. If anything, this might be the only way he could ever really speak his mind, as she knew there was a lot he didn't say despite his claims of being straightforward and blunt.

"So?" she said, folding her arms casually below her chest and shifting her weight to one side. "The question is, now that you know what you've been hiding, will you continue to hide it? Or are you going to commit to a change, and better communication with your friends?"